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“The fragility will come about only if there are major battles waged between me and Mahathir, but I have made it very clear. Number one, he is the Prime Minister, and number two, I refuse to give a time frame,” Anwar said in an interview with The Star and Sinar Harian.

Dr Mahathir had initially said that he would need about two years to lead the country in order to solve the problems faced by the country.

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“I must give him the latitude and space to govern effectively and therefore, I know my role.

“That’s why I take a minimal role. Some people in Keadilan (PKR) are now really upset with the recent developments but I said: ‘Look, give him the space, let him run the show’.”

Denying allegations that he worked independently and did not consult Dr Mahathir, Anwar said even his June 4 meeting with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong over the Attorney General’s appointment was held with the Prime Minister’s blessing.

“I mentioned to the PM that there is a necessity, and he said ‘proceed’.

“The PM allows me to do that; it’s because I presented the PM’s case to support his choice,” said Anwar.

He said his efforts to engage the Malay Rulers was to complement Dr Mahathir, who had to focus on so many other issues.

Asked whether he felt a cruel sense of irony that Dr Mahathir – who sacked him in 1998 and then imprisoned him on charges of sodomy and abuse of power – was now being credited as the man who was saving the country, Anwar replied: “If I had not forgiven him, I would not have endorsed him in Pakatan Harapan.”